Acute toxicity of organophosphorus and organochlorine insecticides in laboratory animals

Abstract

The influence of acute poisoning with Dursban (O.P.I.) and D.D.T. (O.cl.I.) on serum enzymes and histopathological examination of the liver, kidney and testes was investigated in albino rats. Two repeated i.p. injections of Dursban in a dose of half the LD 50 resulted in a significant increase in serum GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase activity and a decrease of cholinesterase. In case of DDT, two doses of 150 mg/kg orally resulted in a significant increase in the activity of serum GPT only, while three doses increased serum GOT and GPT. No significant change was observed in serum alkaline phosphatase and cholinesterase activity. Regarding the pathological examination it was found that in animals treated with Dursban there was liver necrosis of mid-zonal type and fatty change at the periphery. In case of DDT the liver cells lost their radial arrangements and showed fatty change. There was cellular infiltration in the centre, mostly mononucleolar cells. In both insecticides there was necrosis of some of the seminiferous tubules of the testes and cloudy swelling of the convoluted tubules of the kidney. Histochemical study of the liver in animals treated with Dursban showed that glycogen was deposited at one side of the cell. However, there was depletion of glycogen around the central vein. In liver treated with DDT there were large globules of fat inside the liver cells, indicating increased fat content compared to control liver, where there were tiny minute droplets of fat.

Manganese Supplementation Reduces the Blood Cholesterol Levels in Ca-Deficient Ovariectomized Rats

“…It is difficult to confirm the accurate pathogenesis of the liver weight change, since only the weight was measured and the lipid contents of the liver tissue were not analyzed. According to many studies, increase of Ca intake decreases absorption of fat and lowers tissue and blood lipid levels [24,25]. A prior study that we conducted wherein the same Ca intake levels (low and adequate) were used, the weight and total fat contents of the liver in the low calcium diet group were significantly higher than in the group given diet with adequate calcium [7].…”

Sumithion Induced Hepatic Injury in the Toads Bufo tibamicus

“…injection of rats with a 0.5% solvent of ethyl parathion or methyl parathion-DDT mixtures produced hepatic damages which include sinusoidal congestion, cytoplasmic vacuolation and necrosis. Moreover, cytoplasmic vacuolation and liver necrosis were induced in the rats by Dursban (Mikhail et al, 1979) and in the rabbits by dieldrin (Hurket, 1978). El-Banhawy (1974) described many histological changes in the hepatic cells of rats under the effect of a variety of insecticides.…”

“…Of upmost importance in this respect, is the effect of such insecticides on the liver because of its essential role in drug metabolism and detoxication (Cohen, 1982). Liver of animals intoxicated by different insecticides showed many histopathological alterations such as cytoplasmic vacuolation (Datta and Dikishith, 1973;El-Banhawy, 1974), leucocytic infiltration (Hurket, 1978;Sakr and Gabr, 1992) and necrosis (Mikhail et al, 1979;Sakr and Abo-Shafey, 1989). Insecticides were also found to induce alterations in enzyme levels in different animals (Ahmed et al, 1992;Sakr, 1999;Saleh, 1999).…”

Toxic Effects of Organochlorine Pesticides: A Review

“…The pathological tests showed liver necrosis of mid zonal type, fatty change at the periphery and loss of radial arrangement of liver cells. It also resulted in swelling of convoluted tubules of kidneys and necrosis of seminiferous tubules of testis [49].…”